Effect of Alcohol on Tremors

Summary

Tremors are involuntary movements of a part or parts of the body that occur because of alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles. The causes behind most tremors are poorly understood. Some studies suggest tremors could be caused by abnormalities in a particular area of the brain called the olivary nucleus. Researchers believe that the cells making up the olivary nucleus may be responsible for generating a central rhythm of the body and may therefore also be responsible for the generation of tremors. Consumption of alcohol has been known to reduce tremors in some patients. Researchers believe that the alcohol may work directly on the cells of the olivary nucleus. As a result, researchers would like to determine the effects of alcohol on three different kinds of tremors (physiological, symptomatic palatal, and essential palatal).

Timeline

Start

1999-01

Primary completion

—

Completion

2002-07

Publications

• Background Homberg V, Hefter H, Reiners K, Freund HJ. Differential effects of changes in mechanical limb properties on physiological and pathological tremor. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1987 May;50(5):568-79. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.50.5.568.
• Background Deuschl G, Krack P, Lauk M, Timmer J. Clinical neurophysiology of tremor. J Clin Neurophysiol. 1996 Mar;13(2):110-21. doi: 10.1097/00004691-199603000-00002.
• Background Lutes J, Lorden JF, Beales M, Oltmans GA. Tolerance to the tremorogenic effects of harmaline: evidence for altered olivo-cerebellar function. Neuropharmacology. 1988 Aug;27(8):849-55. doi: 10.1016/0028-3908(88)90102-5.

Drugs

Indications